Spring Break
The Daily OrangeGraduating film majors launch company despite risk
By Caitlin Dewey
Posted: 5/6/09, 6:46 PM EST Section: Feature
"Dan(ielle)" is a 15-minute short set in New York City. Le wrote the complex script - which tells the story of a girl who returns to her ex-lover's city - last winter. After deciding between "Dan(ielle)" and O'Neill's competing thriller script, the group decided to name itself 50/50 Productions - a reference to a disagreement they'd had over the scripts.
The disagreement was not the first that cinematographer Le, editor O'Neil and director Perdew, as well as the group's producer, Kate Lavalee, would have over the course of the semester. With their distinct styles and strong artistic visions, the three occasionally argued about the direction of the film.
Le tends to be the most artistic or avant-garde of the group, while O'Neil - in almost direct opposition - is the most grounded. Perdew jokes that he's somewhere in between.
It is this difference in vision, however, as well as their friendship and their versatility as filmmakers, that has allowed O'Neil, Le and Perdew to succeed thus far.
"They work well together. They're a good team," said Jason Kohlbrenner, the supervisor of the editing suites, who has supported the group throughout the semester. "They each bring different things to the table, and if they can utilize each other's skills and work together, they're going to be quite successful."
From the earliest planning stages, the group treated their film as more than a mere school project. They petitioned Newhouse for use of better lenses and paid thousands of dollars out of pocket for a top-of-the-line camera. They drove to New York City over Spring Break to shoot cutaways on location. As late as May 5, Le and Perdew were still driving to New York to film B-roll material, leaving Syracuse late Tuesday afternoon to shoot more hours of footage for a film that was due for their class in three days.
Their dedication impacted their schoolwork and other relationships, O'Neil said. On one occasion, he slept only three hours in three days.
The disagreement was not the first that cinematographer Le, editor O'Neil and director Perdew, as well as the group's producer, Kate Lavalee, would have over the course of the semester. With their distinct styles and strong artistic visions, the three occasionally argued about the direction of the film.
Le tends to be the most artistic or avant-garde of the group, while O'Neil - in almost direct opposition - is the most grounded. Perdew jokes that he's somewhere in between.
It is this difference in vision, however, as well as their friendship and their versatility as filmmakers, that has allowed O'Neil, Le and Perdew to succeed thus far.
"They work well together. They're a good team," said Jason Kohlbrenner, the supervisor of the editing suites, who has supported the group throughout the semester. "They each bring different things to the table, and if they can utilize each other's skills and work together, they're going to be quite successful."
From the earliest planning stages, the group treated their film as more than a mere school project. They petitioned Newhouse for use of better lenses and paid thousands of dollars out of pocket for a top-of-the-line camera. They drove to New York City over Spring Break to shoot cutaways on location. As late as May 5, Le and Perdew were still driving to New York to film B-roll material, leaving Syracuse late Tuesday afternoon to shoot more hours of footage for a film that was due for their class in three days.
Their dedication impacted their schoolwork and other relationships, O'Neil said. On one occasion, he slept only three hours in three days.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
tv
posted 5/11/09 @ 3:09 AM EST
I think the potential reward is definitely worth the risk. It may be an ambitious plan but they can always go back and work for some established director is things don't go well later on. (Continued…)
Durrie
posted 5/11/09 @ 3:17 PM EST
good luck!
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